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Red Cross appeals for more funds for flood victims in Sudan
10/8/2007 9:53

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies yesterday more than doubled its Sudan floods appeal to about US$ 4.6 million as flood waters in the country rose above critical levels.

The early arrival of heavy rains has caused rivers in Sudan's north and east to burst their banks, inundating villages, towns and farm land, the Geneva-based relief agency said in a statement.

According to the Sudanese Red Crescent, nearly 100 people have been killed by the floods and more than 300,000 people in 16 of the country's 26 states have been affected. Almost 60,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed.

John English, the head of the Federation's field assessment and coordination team in Sudan, said that the combination of the unexpected timing and the severity of the rain have caught many communities unprepared.

"Flooding on this scale hasn't been seen for twenty years. Whole communities have been devastated ... farms, livestock, roads, bridges, latrines, hospitals and schools have been damaged or swept away."

Niels Scott, the Federation's operations coordinator for Africa, said the floods have also damaged Sudan's fragile water and sanitation systems, leaving many without access to clean water.

"This is increasing the incidence of water-borne diseases such as acute watery diarrhoea," Scott said.

According to the statement, the federation's revised appeal aims to assist 140,000 Sudanese people for the next six months through the provision of water and sanitation assistance, basic health care as well as shelter and relief items.



Xinhua